2011

Biographies from the 2011 Induction Ceremony Program.

Justus “Jud” Ammons

Jud Ammons grew up on a farm in the North Carolina mountains, where his work sharecropping and plowing gardens showed early signs of the entrepreneur he would become. At NC State University, he worked his way through building models for the NC State Fair and School of Engineering, and doing odd jobs including starting a laundry pickup business. His senior year he worked 40 hours a week as an engineer for the State of North Carolina. Extra-curricular activities included Student Council, membership in AZ honorary fraternity, and presidency of FarmHouse Fraternity.

After graduation, he served in the US Air Force, then worked as a department head with CP&L. However, when he stepped out on his own to start Ammons Construction Company, Ammons set his foot on a path that would change the face of Raleigh, and enrich the quality of communities far and wide.

Since that day, he has built, owned and operated major subdivisions, day care facilities, golf course communities, industrial parks and shopping centers across North Carolina. In every case, he has gone above and beyond to create quality communities, always guided by his motto: “Let it be pretty.”

A savvy businessman, Ammons was driven by his desire to meet the needs of the people of Raleigh. His work on the City Task Force inspired him to build Eagle Chase Subdivision to provide attractive, affordable housing and recreational amenities in Southeast Raleigh. To increase investment and jobs, he developed EastPark, one of the largest industrial, business and office parks in the Triangle.

Encouraged by seniors in his church, Ammons developed Springmoor Retirement Community, and has managed it for over twenty years. Springmoor is an integral part of Greystone, where Ammons pioneered the concept of a planned urban development incorporating amenities that allow residents to live, work, play, worship, and go to school in a cohesive community.

Jud’s happiest days are spent with his four children and thirteen grandchildren. His hobbies include NASCAR events, raising champion beagles and attending NCSU sporting events.

Ammons has served his profession as president and board member of the Raleigh-Wake County Home Builders Association, and as director of the National Association of Home Builders. His community service includes leadership on the County Planning Commission, Raleigh Greenway Commission, and Raleigh Bicentennial Commission. He is a founder of Greystone Baptist Church and has served as deacon, Sunday School teacher and trustee. He has served on several legislative study commissions, as a member of the volunteer fire department, and a trustee of Mars Hill College.

A generous philanthropist, Jud and his wife Jo Ellen are benefactors of Mars Hill College, Meredith College, NC State University, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and numerous other charities. He is active in the Wolfpack Club, and is an alumni leader of FarmHouse Fraternity.

Jud chronicled his life in the book entitled “Don’t Wish You Had, Be Glad You Did,” sharing his insights and his belief that dreaming, going for broke and taking risks will lead to a rewarding life. In Jud Ammons’ case, his dreams and risks have enhanced the lives of countless Raleigh citizens.

J. Ruffin Bailey

An honored statesman and distinguished civic leader, J. Ruffin Bailey is renowned for his leadership in sweeping judicial reform that established the uniform district court system North Carolinians enjoy today.

Born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Bailey came to Raleigh with his family at the age of six. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before joining the US Army Air Corps. A pilot, he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the China-Burma-India Theatre.

After the war, Bailey returned to Chapel Hill to complete his education. He graduated with the illustrious 1948 post-war class, and immediately entered practice with his father, I. M. Bailey. After his father’s death, he joined Wright
T. Dixon to found Bailey-Dixon, LLP. Revered as a mentor for young attorneys, a valued member of the NC Bar Association and a leader in the broader legal community, Bailey practiced law for over 50 years.

Bailey’s most celebrated contributions were made during his four terms as a Senator in the NC General Assembly. He distinguished himself as vice chair of the Judiciary Committee, chair of the Study Commission on Compulsory Insurance, the Governor’s Council on Juvenile Delinquency and the NC Courts Commission.

During his tenure as member and chair of the Courts Commission, Bailey advocated for broad changes that helped shape North Carolina’s modern court system. Under his leadership, the Commission established a statewide uniform district court system, created the Court of Appeals, centralized and systematized court administration, and instituted the judicial retirement system.

After retiring from the General Assembly, Ruffin resumed a vigorous law career, including an effective legislative practice representing both individuals and industries. He continued to serve with distinction in myriad roles throughout the Raleigh community. He provided leadership as a scoutmaster, president of the Raleigh Rotary Club, board member of the Raleigh Golf Association and NC Citizens for Business and Industry, and as senior warden and vestry member at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Bailey received many professional and civic awards in recognition of his many contributions, including the Court of Awards from the Boy Scouts of America, and Distinguished Service awards from the Wake Country Bar Association and the NC Credit Union. In 2001, the NC Bar Association honored Bailey with the Joseph Branch Professionalism Award, given to the Wake County attorney who best exhibits the qualities of professionalism displayed by Joseph Branch, former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. In 1973, he became the second North Carolinian to receive the American Judicature Society’s Herbert Harley Award, honoring individuals who contribute to the improvement of the administration of justice at the state level. In 2009, he was named a Distinguished Alumnus by Needham B. Broughton High School.

In a lifetime of leadership, J. Ruffin Bailey made lasting contributions to the City of Raleigh and the State of North Carolina. His commitment to public service lives on today through the family, friends and colleagues he imbued with his philosophy of Service Above Self.

Thomas W. Bradshaw, Jr.

From Tom Bradshaw’s early days at the Raleigh News & Observer to his work with Citigroup today, he has paired professional achievement with civic contributions that continue to enhance the quality of life of Raleigh residents, the citizens of North Carolina and our nation.

A Broughton graduate, Bradshaw began his career on the advertising staff at the News & Observer. Simultaneously, as a Raleigh Jaycee, he plunged into a lifelong commitment to public service.

When real estate giant Cliff Cameron met Bradshaw, he saw his potential and invited him to join Cameron Brown Company. Bradshaw rose to become vice president of North Hills, Inc. and president of North Hills Realty. He served his profession as chairman of the Capitol Area Development Association and Raleigh’s Multiple Listing Service.

He became president of the Raleigh Jaycees, vice president and national director for Jaycees at the state and national levels, while leading fundraising efforts for the Community Chest, Raleigh YWCA, United Way, March of Dimes and United Cerebral Palsy.

In 1969, Bradshaw entered politics, becoming the youngest City Councilor and Mayor in Raleigh’s history. He drove improvements to city infrastructure and services through campaigns for almost $60 million in bond issues. Thirteen city parks, the civic center, and the Falls Lake Project are only a few examples of his visionary efforts. He served as founding chairman of the Triangle J Council of Governments, chairman of the National League of Cities, and a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

In 1977, Bradshaw was appointed Secretary of the NC Department of Transportation, where he secured a $300 million bond issue. Impacts included completion of I-40 between Benson to Wilmington and Raleigh’s beltline. During this time, he chaired transportation industry organizations at the regional and national levels.

Bradshaw’s work in the transportation arena led to his current career as managing director and co-head of the Transportation Group for Citigroup Global Markets. He is a member of the Southern Growth Policies Board, and has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board of National Academy of Sciences.

Though his work is global, Bradshaw continues to work hard for his hometown. While commuting to Wall Street, he has served as chair of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and NC Citizens for Business and Industry, vice chairman of the North Carolina Global TransPark Authority, president of Wake County United Way, and is a very active member of the Raleigh Kiwanis Club. He was founding chairman of the Clarence Lightner Youth Leadership Program, past president of the NC Symphony Society, and chaired the campaign for Raleigh Rescue Mission. Bradshaw is an elder at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, and committed to the Public School Forum of North Carolina, where he has served for 20 years in support of public education.

In every pursuit, Tom Bradshaw leaves a lasting impact on the institutions and people he serves. He is gifted with the ability to lead others to set ambitious goals, and to work together to exceed all expectations. We have yet to see the breadth of his aspirations for his native city, nor his accomplishments on its behalf.

The Honorable George R. Greene

1930 – March 17, 2013

As a leading civil rights attorney, effective community activist, church leader, and wise jurist, George R. Greene is celebrated as the first African American elected to serve on the Wake County Court bench.

George Greene was born in Nashville, NC, the son of educators. He moved to Raleigh when his father was appointed as executive director of the NC Teachers Association.

A graduate of Shaw University, Greene studied law at NC College in Durham (now NC Central University), before transferring to the University of North Carolina School of Law. He served in the US Army during the Korean War, and returned to UNC to graduate as the only African American in his class. He then set out to change the world, first through groundbreaking civil rights litigation.

As the attorney for student activists from Shaw University and St. Augustine’s College during the lunch counter sit-ins, Greene played a role in the integration of eating establishments. His representation of a black plumber against the City of Raleigh led to the tradesman being able to bid on and receive city contracts, setting new precedents for minority access to government business. As attorney of record for the Raleigh Inter-Church Housing Corporation, he was instrumental in establishing Method community’s Rich Park, the first low-income housing project accepted by North Carolina’s Department of Health, Education and Welfare. In the face of deplorable conditions at Chavis Park pool, he led in the integration of the Pullen Park pool.

In 1974, Greene won a hard fought race to become the first African American elected to serve on the Wake County District Court. He served with distinction for fourteen years on the District Court, and for six years on the Superior Court bench.

Greene served his profession and the community as an energetic volunteer, providing leadership to several Bar Associations, the Commissioners of Raleigh Housing Authority, the Legislative Advisory Committee for the City of Raleigh, and the Board of Trustees of First Baptist Church. He also devoted his time and talents to Shaw University, Boy Scouts, the NAACP, Mechanics and Farmers Bank, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and Meadowbrook Country Club.

Greene has received numerous awards for his achievements, including Man of the Year from both Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and the Knights of Columbus, Citizen of the Year from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Harvey E. Beech Award from the University of North Carolina, and the William Brower Award from the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Democratic Caucus. He was named a Distinguished Alumnus by Shaw University, and Tar Heel of the Week by the Raleigh News & Observer. Greene was honored for 50 years in the legal profession as an original member of the Golden Rams Society by the UNC Black Alumni Reunion Committee, and by the Wake and North Carolina Bar Associations.

Throughout his life, Judge Greene has worked effectively to defeat discrimination and strengthen the fabric of the Raleigh community. After more than half a century of legal and community leadership, Judge Greene is still changing the world for the better.

Mary Coker Joslin and William Joslin

When Mary and William Joslin settled in Raleigh in 1948, they set a course of quiet and effective leadership in community life, politics, and conservation initiatives.

William Joslin grew up in Raleigh’s Cameron Park. After the early death of his father, William helped his mother in the tea room she ran off Fayetteville Street. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina, and studied law at Columbia before enlisting in the U.S. Navy.

Mary grew up near the campus of Coker College in Hartsville, SC. Inspired by her father, David Coker, agricultural reformer, and her Uncle Will, botany professor at UNC, she majored in botany at Vassar College.

William and Mary met in New York, married after the war, and returned to Columbia to complete William’s law degree. Upon graduation, William clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black.

Returning to Raleigh, William opened a solo law practice and the couple began raising their family of six. From the start, they supported each other in bringing energetic, progressive leadership to William’s hometown and state.

William contributed much to Raleigh’s legal establishment, serving as Associate City Attorney, President of the Wake County Bar, and as founding partner of Joslin & Sedberry. William was recognized with the Joseph Branch Professionalism Award, the Liberty Bell Award, and the NC Bar Association General Practice Hall of Fame.

After their youngest entered school, Mary earned her Ph.D. in French, taught at Ravenscroft and St. Augustine’s College, and authored four books, including William Chambers Coker: Passionate Botanist.

The Joslins shared a lively interest in politics. William served as chair of the State Board of Elections under Governor Sanford, and chaired the Wake County Democratic Party. Mary was a founding member of the Wake County Democratic Women.

Mary and William’s commitment to conservation, however, led to the most significant of their contributions. William was instrumental in establishing the NC Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and the Triangle Land Conservancy, and development of the Raleigh Greenway system. He served on the boards of the NC Nature Conservancy, the NC Botanical Garden, Kalmia Gardens and the Southern Environmental Law Center, and spearheaded establishment of the NC Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust.

The Joslins led the restoration of UNC’s Coker Arboretum, and were key movers in preserving the Margaret Reid Wildflower Garden. They rallied neighbors to create Charlotte Hilton Green Park through purchase and donation of threatened green space to the city.

Throughout it all, they cultivated their 4½ acres on West Lake Drive as a beautiful native plant sanctuary, now a destination for plant enthusiasts and national model for conservation.

Shortly before William died in January 2011, they arranged to donate their property to the city, and established the City of Oaks Foundation to support the garden. Mary continues to steward this future city park. Thanks to their generosity and vision, the Joslin Garden will forever remain a verdant woodland, botanical refuge, and living testimony of Mary and William Joslin’s passion for nature and land conservation.

Lucille Holcombe Webb and Harold H. Webb

Pioneers for civil rights and leaders in education and public health, Harold and Lucille Holcombe Webb are celebrated for their impact on people and organizations throughout Raleigh and across the nation.

Harold began his trailblazing career as a Tuskegee Airman, the first African Americans to serve as pilots during World War II. After the war, he completed college and went on to become a teacher and a principal. During the 1960’s, he served the state as a leading force for school integration. In recognition of his leadership, he was tapped to become the first African American State Personnel Director. Under his leadership, the Central Applicant Referral System made state government more orderly, fair and open to all citizens. He served at the state level as the Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In the late 70’s and early 80’s, he represented the Southeast Raleigh district on the Wake County Board of Commissioners. As a board member and chair, he worked toward equity in the educational system and improvements in the Southeast Raleigh community. He has also served on the UNC Board of Governors, the Wake County Voter Education Coalition, the Wake County Planning Board, as a trustee of Wake Technical College and Shaw University, and as a powerful volunteer for countless other public and community organizations.

Harold was honored as the News & Observer’s Tar Heel of the Week, and with the Distinguished Service Award from St. Augustine’s College. In 2007, he received the highest civilian award given by Congress, the Congressional Gold Medal.

Lucille was born in Richmond, Virginia. After college at NC A&T, she adopted North Carolina as her home. When she moved to Raleigh in 1962, she taught in the segregated school system, then in formerly all white schools. She rose to become an administrator with Raleigh City Schools and later, after consolidation, with Wake County Schools.

Lucille’s leadership in public health is national in scope. Through service on Wake County Board of Health, she emerged as president and founding member of Strengthening the Black Family. The Kellogg Foundation tapped her to lead their Community Based Public Health Initiative to address inequities in the health of the nation’s ethnic minorities. She is heralded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as an expert in community based participatory research, and for building support for programs addressing chronic health challenges impacting communities of color.

A wide range of community organizations benefitted from Lucille’s leadership, including Delta Sigma Theta, the Project Direct, Teens Against Aids, Girl Scouts, the Raleigh Human Relations Council, Healthy Mother/Healthy Babies, City Gallery, the YWCA, and the NC Museum of History’s Committee on Women’s History. In every role, she worked to bring the right people together to make things happen.

Lucille was recognized by the National Community Based Organizations Network through the creation of the annual Lucille Webb Award.

Harold and Lucille Holcombe Webb have dedicated almost half a century of service for the benefit of humankind. Because of the Webbs lifetime work, Raleigh offers all races of people more opportunities for success and more enhanced life experiences.

Florence Barclay Winston and Charles McKimmon Winston

Charles McKimmon and Florence Barclay Winston helped shape the face of twenty-first century Raleigh through their civic leadership, generous philanthropy, and creation of iconic dining and hospitality establishments.

In 1957, Charles, a Raleigh native and University of North Carolina alumnus, married Flo, a Sweet Briar graduate from New Jersey. They settled in Raleigh, where they established themselves as an entrepreneurial duo with vision, creativity, and boundless energy.

In their first venture, the Winstons teamed with Thad and Alice Eure to found The Angus Barn. It became one of the most critically acclaimed restaurants in the US and changed how Raleigh viewed dining out. They went on to expand the culinary market by developing local Pizza Inns and Darryls’ restaurants into a national chain. The popular Winston’s Grille was the result of their mentorship of son Charles and family friend Wil O’Neal, who followed in their footsteps as restaurateurs.

They were equally successful in the hotel industry, another passion they shared with their children. The hotel company, WJS Inc., excelled in creating comfortable and affordable hotels. Their son, Bob, bought and took the company public as Winston Hotels. Flo and their daughter Marion founded Barclay Design, and worked with Winston Hotels to design, construct and renovate more than 52 hotels throughout the United States.

While their business successes helped drive Raleigh’s economic growth, Flo and Charles have done much to strengthen the social fabric of the community. Generous philanthropists, the Winstons have supported countless educational initiatives, including construction of the Jane S. McKimmon Center, named in honor of Charles’ grandmother.

Flo’s passion for education has been expressed through her service to St. Augustine’s College, the UNC Arts and Science Foundation, Sweet Briar College, and the UNC Board of Visitors. Her commitment to community led to service as president of the Junior League of Raleigh and the Rex Hospital Guild, where she also volunteered for thirty years. Other board leadership included Rex Hospital, the Lineberger Cancer Center and the early founding boards of Hilltop Home and Haven House. At the national level, she sat on the Council Board for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She served as vestrywoman and junior warden at Christ Episcopal Church, where she was honored with the Christ Church Cross.

Charles served as president of the NC Restaurant Association and the Pizza Inn Franchisee Association of America. Sharing Flo’s commitment to education and health, he chaired the boards of St. Mary’s College, the UNC Alumni Association, and the The Educational Foundation, and served on the UNC Board of Visitors and Ravenscroft’s Advisory Council. He provided leadership to the American Cancer Society of Wake County and the Rex Hospital Foundation, and sat on the founding board of the Raleigh Community Hospital. In recognition of his achievements, Charles was named NC Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year Award, Developer of the Year, and winner of the Florida State Salut au Restaurateur Award. Other honors include the William Richardson Davie Award, the UNC Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Medal and the Christ Church Cross.

For over 50 years, the Winston’s have shared business acumen, public service, and philanthropic leadership. Thanks to their many contributions, Raleigh is a better place to live, work, and visit.

Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

In 1938, twenty-nine women chartered the Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and committed to the service organization’s mission to promote academic excellence, support the underserved, participate in the establishment of positive public policy, and provide solutions for problems in their communities. In 2011, the 362 members of the Raleigh Alumnae Chapter continue to work effectively to advance the Five Point Programmatic Thrust of Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement.

Since its earliest days, the outreach of the sorority was extended to women, children, and others in the community. Powerful mentoring programs such as Jabberwock was launched in 1939 to prepare high school girls for post secondary school and life experiences. Deltas hosted countless economic development workshops and conferences, international teas for foreign students in local universities and colleges, Candy Striper programs, and voter registration drives. Today hundreds benefit from the chapter’s service in the five point programmatic thrusts.

Economic development programs include monthly financial workshops provided at no cost to the community. The chapter has a longstanding relationship with Habitat for Humanity and was a financial and physical contributor to the 2011 Women Build.

Delta’s educational outreach brings enrichment and opportunity to over 200 students throughout Wake County. Through the DELTA Carousel Program, professional women serve as role models to enlighten students in grades K-12 about potential career opportunities. The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy promotes interest in science, technology, and math careers, all fields in which African American women are underrepresented. The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy also concentrates on developing well-rounded young women with a focus on African American history, literacy, character development, healthy choices, and community service. Monthly educational programs culminate in an annual Extravaganza.

Health programs focus on the healthy heart, obesity, and breast cancer awareness. The chapter also sponsors and participates in health fairs throughout Wake County, volunteers with Meals on Wheels, and participates in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure.

The Raleigh Alumnae Chapter facilitates political engagement by coordinating Delta Day at the State Capitol when members of Delta chapters across North Carolina convene for a day of programs, meetings and visits with legislators.

Raleigh Deltas extend their community impact through financial contributions to dozens of local, state, and national organizations, including the United Negro College Fund, Haven House, the Raleigh City Museum, Interact, and the Garner Road YWCA.

In 2010, the Raleigh Alumnae Chapter was recognized as the ‘Chapter of the Year’ for the South Atlantic Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. This prestigious award serves as recognition of the wide-ranging contributions, and confirmation of the excellent service provided for over 70 years in the Wake County community.

The Raleigh Cemetery Association, Historic Oakwood Cemetery

On an oak-covered Raleigh hillside in 1867, the Raleigh Ladies Memorial Association established the Confederate Cemetery for the reinterment of over 1,500 Confederate soldiers. Today, thanks to the vision of the Raleigh Cemetery Society (RCA), what we know today as Historic Oakwood Cemetery has evolved to become an outdoor museum, a resource for research, and a contemplative, sculpture-rich garden where visitors can commune with nature in the historic heart of our city.

In 1869, with the public City Cemetery on East Street nearing capacity, a number of Raleigh’s leading citizens – many with ties to downtown churches lacking gravesites – chartered the Raleigh Cemetery Society. They purchased land adjacent to the Confederate Cemetery “forever dedicated to the purpose of a cemetery.” The site was developed as a model of the emerging cemetery park movement, in which cemeteries were designed as landscaped and welcoming oases within the urban environment.

Through the years, the Historic Oakwood Cemetery has memorialized over 21,000 citizens from all walks of life, most of them North Carolinians. The headstones are a roster of those who have written the history of Raleigh, including seven governors, six United States senators, four Confederate generals and numerous state legislators and jurists. It is the final resting place of countless men and women who have contributed to the building of our city, and a safe haven for many reinterred from family burial grounds relocated due to local development.

Throughout the decades, the RCA has remained constant in its commitment to ensuring that each burial is handled with dignity, and that the grounds remain a verdant jewel in Raleigh’s crown. Heroic efforts in the wake of Hurricane Fran, the 2003 new master improvement plan, and a $2 million capital campaign are a few of its achievements. These are eclipsed, however, by their ongoing perseverance in maintaining a welcoming, noble, yet vibrant space for all Raleigh citizens.

Today, Historic Oakwood Cemetery continues to serve as a resting place for citizens and a respite for the bereaved. It also serves the city as a historic museum, an outdoor laboratory, and a public square for the celebration of art and community.

The RCA and cemetery staff members offer tours, free to the public, on themes within Raleigh’s history. Special programs are available for school and civic groups, as well as for groups led by other museums and cultural organizations. High school students use the cemetery as a historical resource, and NC State students conduct human demography research using data from tombstones. Burning Coal Theatre brings Raleigh’s past to life with performances about historic figures residing on the grounds. Every day, countless bikers and joggers, Segway tourists, strolling families and friends pass through the main gate on Oakwood Avenue to enjoy the cemetery’s natural beauty.

For 140 years, the Raleigh Cemetery Association has brought together Raleigh’s past and present in this urban garden, a place at once dignified and dynamic, solemn and spirited, serene and full of life. A credit to their thoughtful management, Historic Oakwood Cemetery will remain a timeless and treasured resource for the City of Raleigh.

Centennial Hall of Fame Inductee
Dr. Hubert Ashley Royster

November 19, 1871 – November 7, 1959

North Carolina’s first general surgeon, cofounder of the American Board of Surgery and American College of Surgeons, and mentor to hundreds of Raleigh physicians, Dr. Hubert Ashley Royster is remembered as the “Father of modern surgery in North Carolina.”

Dr. Royster was born in Raleigh, the son of one of the city’s first doctors. At Wake Forest College, he distinguished himself as a scholar, athlete, and contributor to the art and intellectual communities. He studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating as senior class president and first in his class. He passed the NC Medical Board exam with the highest score ever recorded.

After completing his residency at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh in one year, Dr. Royster moved to Raleigh to join his father’s practice. The first general surgeon in North Carolina, he helped pioneer this emerging medical specialty.

Despite international acclaim, Dr. Royster’s greatest impact was on his hometown and state.

As a surgeon at Rex Hospital for 38 years, and as Surgeon Chief at St. Agnes Hospital for 42 years, Royster ministered to thousands from every walk of life. He developed St. Agnes Hospital as a training ground for young men in the fields of surgery and medicine. He founded and led the surgical service at Dorothea Dix Hospital, promoting enlightened perspective on mental illness, and devoting many afternoons to provide free care at Dorothea Dix and St. Agnes Hospital.

A prolific writer, he authored three books and 290 medical papers and lay publications. His monograph on appendicitis was internationally acclaimed as the definitive publication on the condition. He served on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Surgery and the NC Medical Journal.

Royster provided leadership within the medical profession as president of the NC Medical Society, Southern Surgical Association, and Wake County Medical Society, as secretary of the NC Board of Medical Examiners, and cofounder of the American College of Surgeons and American Board of Surgery. At the age of 30, he became founding dean of the University of North Carolina Medical Department in Raleigh.

An energetic community leader, Royster served as president of NC State Literary and Historical Association and the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

In celebration of his exceptional contributions to the field of medicine, Royster was honored as Emeritus Professor of Surgery at the University of North Carolina. The Royster Medical Society, formed by Raleigh physicians, still meets monthly to present papers in honor of his admonition that they seek constant professional development.

Dr. Hubert Royster’s legacy lives on in the institutions he helped establish, the physicians he trained and inspired, and the suffering he relieved. The Royster Building at Dorothea Dix, Wake Med’s Royster Surgical Ward, and facilities at Rex Hospital, St. Agnes Hospital and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine are testament to his pioneering work to improve health care for the citizens of Raleigh and North Carolina.